Among the "more important" provisions the IIABA is looking for, Mr. Rusbuldt said, is an increase in the maximum coverage limits, which now stand at $250,000 for homes and $500,000 for businesses.

Mr. Rusbuldt said IIABA also was hoping for a base amount of contents coverage and optional business interruption protection for commercial policies.

Additionally, he mentioned, increasing the population of those required to buy flood insurance to mandate it for anyone in a flood zone. Currently the law extends only to flood plain properties with a federally backed mortgage.

The bill may also expand mandatory coverage to areas facing flood once in 100 years, to territory where a flood may be expected once in 250 or 500 years.

One flood measure that, according to Mr. Rusbuldt, will not secure passage is a bill submitted after the recent hurricanes by Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., which would allow for the retroactive purchase of flood insurance by homeowners who made a payment to account for past premiums they would have paid if they had the coverage.

The IIABA's CEO noted that flood program reforms adopted a year-and-a-half ago had new mitigation standards for flood zones. He said the new measure should include enforcement to make sure those standards are adhered to.

Among some of the other flood program provisions that IIABA suggests:

o An automatic, base amount of additional living expense coverage on residential policies, with an option to purchase increased coverage for a fee.

o Optional basement coverage on residential policies for finished basements.

o Provisions relating to processing and claims simplification to simplify the application process, allowing agents and loss adjusters to work more closely together during the adjustment phase.